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Published 01 October 2020

EDUCACIÓN FÍSICA Y DEPORTES https://doi.org/10.5672/apunts.2014-0983.es.(2020/4).142.07

ISSUE 142
55

Training in Team Sports: Optimising

SPORTS TRAINING
EDUCACIÓN FÍSICA Y DEPORTES

Training at FCB
142

Edu Pons Alcalá1  EP   , Andrés Martin Garcia2 AM   Marc Guitart Trench2 MT
  ,
Isaac Guerrero Hernández3  IG   , Joan Ramón Tarragó i Costa4 JC   ,
4.º trimestre (octubre-diciembre) 2020

Francisco Seirul·lo Vargas5 FV   & Francesc Cos Morera6* FC  


ISSN: 2014-0983

1
 First team physical trainer Futbol Club Barcelona
2
 Physical trainer Futbol Club Barcelona
3
 Assistant Methodology Director Futbol Club Barcelona
4
 Performance Manager Futbol Club Barcelona
5
 Methodology Director FC Barcelona
OPEN  ACCESS 6
 Performance and Health Manager New York City Football Club (NYCFC).(Performance and Health Manager
NYCFC). Physical trainer FC Barcelona 2004-2018. Lecturer INEFC Barcelona

Cite this article


Pons, E., Martín-Garcia, A., Guitart, M., Guerrero, I., Tarragó, J.R., Seirul·lo, F., Cos, F. (2020). Training in
Team Sports: Optimising Training at FCB. Apunts. Educación Física y Deportes, 142, 55-66. https://doi.
org/10.5672/apunts.2014-0983.es.(2020/4).142.07

Editor: Abstract
© Generalitat de Catalunya
Departament de la Presidència In the pursuit of sporting success, the main objectives in top-level sport include winning
Institut Nacional d’Educació and improving results. The sport sciences constantly strive to apply new training
Física de Catalunya (INEFC)
methodologies and systems to enhance and maintain the performance of sportsmen
ISSN: 2014-0983 and women. Team sports involve competitions held over long periods of time and also
subject the athlete to high competitive stress. They therefore call for methods tailored
*Corresponding author:
to their specific features. The methodology called structured training is organised into
Francesc Cos Morera
cosfrancesc@gmail.com two areas of action: coadjuvant and optimiser. This article expounds the foundations
and the main facets of optimiser training. This publication is part of a set of three articles
Section:
that explain the basics of the structured training method.
Sports Training

Original language:
Catalan
Keyword: performance, physical abilities, structured training, coadjuvant training,
Received: methodology.
5 March 2020
Accepted:
15 June 2020
Published:
1 October 2020

Cover:
New Olimpic Sports for
Tokyo 2020. Climbing.
Photo: Climbing. Asian Games
2018. Women's combined final.
Competes Kim Ja-in from South
Korea. Climbing leader.
JSC Sport Climbing.
Palembang, Indonesia.
REUTERS / Edgar Su.

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E. Pons, et al Training in Team Sports: Optimising Training at FCB

Introduction

SPORTS TRAINING
ST is organised on the basis of two paradigms or areas
Over the years, the improvement of sports performance of action, known as optimiser training (OT) and coadju-
in training has prompted the emergence of a number of vant training (CT) (Gómez, et al., 2019), two types of
methodological currents whose common denominator is complementary training derived from the theory of com-
sporting success. The advent of new theories brought a new plex non-linear dynamic systems (Hristovski et al., 2011;
training paradigm called structured training (ST), which Balagué et al., 2014). From this new standpoint, training
pursues the all-round development of the sportsman or constitutes a single process of optimisation of the athlete,
woman (Tarragó et al., 2019; Seirul·lo, cited by Ribera, i.e. the individual is at the centre and it is therefore he or
2009). This methodological trend has been innovative in she who has the capacity to optimise their potential resources
team sports and is particularly relevant for football. Based (Sánchez & Uriondo, 2012), which entails imbuing practices
on the principle that sport-specific training produces better with a non-linear concept based on self-organisation and
performance adjustments, one of the objectives is to design variability (Guerrero & Damunt, 2019).
training tasks which replicate the context and conditions The purpose of this article is to describe the key prin-
of competition in order to achieve the best possible opti- ciples and aspects of OT as one of the two areas of action,
misation of the human athlete’s (HA) different structures together with coadjuvant training (Gómez et al., 2019) for
(Pinder et al., 2011; Tarragó et al., 2019). Figure 1 shows HAs (Tarragó et al., 2019a) developed for team sports at
the structures that comprise ST. FC Barcelona (FCB).
In recent decades, FC Barcelona has developed a train-
ing methodology for team sports anchored in what is called
structured training (ST) (Seirul·lo, 1987; Tarragó et al., Optimiser training
2019), in turn rooted in an interest in the HA: “women Optimiser training (OT) is “training that includes the plan-
and men who are involved in a game/sport who share ning, design, execution and control of the tasks of the sport
with others a common interest in winning and in besting in question and whose objective is the HA’s performance
opponents to obtain compensation for the effort and ded- in all the competitions in which they participate throughout
ication required by this objective” (Tarragó et al., 2019). their sporting life” (Romero & Tous, 2010, foreword by

Figure 1
Structures that conform the human athlete (HA) in structured training.

CONDITIONAL

COGNITIVE SOCIO-AFFECTIVE

COORDINATIVE EMOTIONAL-VOLITIONAL

DISSIPATIVE CREATIVE-EXPRESSIVE

BIO-ENERGETIC THE PLAYER MENTAL


INTERACTS
WITH THE
STRUCTURES

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E. Pons, et al Training in Team Sports: Optimising Training at FCB

SPORTS TRAINING
Seirul·lo, paragraph 1); “We could say that this training The term “simulation situation” refers to the reproduc-
essentially prepares HAs to compete and therefore requires tion of experiences and interactions of game events. The
training tasks to be performed in an environment and with term “preferential situation” suggests the emphasis on or
elements that are specific to the game” (Tarragó et al., intention to optimise some of the HA’s structures. This
2019, pp. 105-106), and it is performed primarily on the preference yields a practical situation conceived to accom-
training ground or court. plish the objective of the session through highly-varied
Through practice, OT seeks to stimulate and develop interactions with systems of other synergetic structures.
the HA’s capacities through their structures consistently HAs’ characteristics and abilities will inform their
with their level of development and physical-cognitive training process whilst permitting the development of the
maturation, while also taking positional specificity, chrono- structures being challenged by the PSSs. OT involves
logical timing and the features which define the athlete into interactivity, cooperation and partnership between all the
consideration. OT respects self-structuring and proposes systems that make up the HAs' structures. The PSSs will
various training tasks and stimuli in an appropriate way, therefore be optimising for the HA and must be presented
thus consolidating the evolution of the HA and their optimal through global tasks executed preferably in groups and
readiness for competition. not for the purpose of learning/interpreting the exercise
but rather the “game” (Seirul·lo, 2015). In this way, the
athlete will be encouraged to focus on the dynamics of
Preferential simulation situations the “game” rather than on the rules involved in the task
By using preferential simulation situations (PSSs), OT or the instructions of the coaching staff, thereby avoiding
makes it possible to generate practical proposals that inter- not only “playing according to the rules” but also “playing
act with and approach the sport being played. PSSs are in the content”, thus fostering “playing in the context”
about generating events and sets of situations conducive (Guerrero & Damunt, 2019).
to a state of action and response in a created environment Each PSS calls for the involvement of the HA’s dif-
which encourages the imitation of behaviours that simulate ferent systems or structures which the coach will have to
the game/sport and preferentially impact the HA’s dif- identify. Each player has to bring into play the systems
ferent constituent structures. This preference is achieved that best respond to the situation created based on their
through the purpose of the task, which in turn is guided own lifelong self-organisation process. Each HA will deal
by means of rules, spaces and the number of participating with this by optimising in a distinct way. OT is about not
players, which are variable and are tailored to suit the restricting the exchange of practice with the HA by making
objective. These situations will be defined and extracted it easier to identify basic specific sources of information,
by the coaching staff and each player through the analysis such as the determination of the conditional characteristics
and interpretation of the real game (Tarragó et al., 2019). of the dominant leg, preferential co-ordination patterns
Given that the objective and foundations of ST are in shooting, preferred communication channels, etc., but
to measure the HA (Arjol, 2012), its practical approach rather encourages pursuing the attainment of a higher hier-
delivers a high level of interaction in the competition of the archical level of cognition, relating this intervention to the
sport in question. In this context, OT involves an exchange, player's hypercomplexity, for example by addressing the
cooperation and synergy between all the systems that con- socio-affective dimension, helping them to identify pref-
stitute the HA’s structures, thereby fostering a different erential relationships when sharing a mutual intervention/
functional capacity which none of these structures separately assistance space with a particular teammate.
possesses. This self-organisation corresponds to complex In recent years, the growing interest in studying the
systems’ capacity to spontaneously form organisational complexity of living organisms and their self-organisation
patterns in the absence of information which imposes order. has led to non-linear approaches to learning. It would
OT is therefore arranged in micro-structural units by the appear that repeating tasks under the same conditions of
PSSs (Seirul·lo, cited by Ribera, 2009) and constitutes a practice does not produce the necessary “fluctuations” in
specific and differential training practice for team sports. the systems involved in order to change their state. Instead,
Using these PSSs, the design of practice situations which models based on the approach of “constantly changing
are as close as possible to the reality of the game and its tasks” through a “variation” in the execution conditions
internal logic will be examined. This involves generating would yield the disruptions required to lead to a change of
tasks in which the players have to resolve different situations functionality in the systems involved (Schöllhorn, et al.,
continually, generating both voluntary and involuntary 2012; Balagué et al., 2014). With introjection and feedback,
responses facilitated by extensive practice. all the structures that make up the HA can be optimised,

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E. Pons, et al Training in Team Sports: Optimising Training at FCB

SPORTS TRAINING
provided that this is done in “repetitions and variations” across successive sessions (diachronically) within the SM.
(Schöllhorn et al., 2015). Consequently, variability and When a change is sought in the HA, one also talks about the
specificity in the stimuli must be prioritised so that the HA intersystemic effect, to with a system open to the outside
can manage them, taking the HA as both a means and an world through projection and introjection mechanisms. It
end (Tarragó et al., 2019). is precisely this form of relationship that is called inter-
Several authors have classified PSSs by determining a systemic when any optimising effect of a system expands
task organisation based on different levels of approaching, its change to other systems of the high structures involved
specificity and/or concreteness (Moras, 1994; Schelling simultaneously.
& Torres-Ronda, 2016; Seirul·lo, 2009). Seirul·lo (1998) Suitability conjecture: this refers to the aptitude, good
classifies strength exercises according to their orientation predisposition or capacity that someone has for a specific,
and level of approach to competition, categorising them as adequate and appropriate purpose. The PSSs should be
general, targeted, special and competitive. This relationship presented in a suitable way to achieve the improvement
with specificity in OT is established through the nature of the HA in terms of the game’s demands. When gener-
of the PSSs, distinguishing them by their general orienta- ating the PSSs it is crucial to identify what is specific and
tion: the nature and organisation of the PSS are similar to unique to the speciality in which the training is performed
those of competition, albeit with a low specific cognitive in order to understand it in all its entirety and complexity.
load; targeted orientation: the nature and organisation of Hologrammatic conjecture: this configures the PSSs
the PSS are similar to competition. This includes specific in OT. It is defined as perceptive capacity (from mind
coordinated actions with non-specific decision-making with to consciousness) with the ability to capture and gather
a special orientation: the nature and organisation of the PSS information that is present, is produced or may be produced
are similar to competition with specific decision-making; during the game. In OT there need to be PSSs where the
and competitive orientation: the nature and organisation of HA captures and recognises all the situations addressed to
the PSS are the same as competition with totally specific acquire them in order to be able to cope with the complexity
decision-making (Solé, 2006). of the game as efficiently as possible. Figure 2 shows the
situations that shape the production of PSSs.

Figure 2
Conjectures in the preparation of PSSs in OT Conjectures that bring about a change in the HA.
PSSs conform the training sessions of the training cycle,
which in turn represents the functional unit of ST organisa-
TIME
tion. This functional unit is called the structured micro-cy- EFFICIENCY
cle (SM) and manages the cycle between matches. Each
micro-cycle interacts with the previous and the following
micro-cycle to form sequences of three micro-cycles. Dynam-
HOLOGRAMMATIC SYNERGETIC
ics are established between them in the form of functional
relationships between the PSSs of each training day that
make up the SM. These relationships are brought about by
valid “conjectures” in the configuration of the ST (Seirul·-
lo, 2015). They are the concepts and assertions supported CONJECTURES
by signs, observations, symptoms and opinions extracted
from the practice of the OT, once it has been accepted and
understood that its validity is shaped by the knowledge
contributed by the complexity sciences (Arjol, 2012). SUITABILITY INTERSYSTEMIC
The conjectures that determine the preparation of the
PSSs are:
Time efficiency conjecture: defined as the time it takes
for a PSS to induce the intended optimising effect on the Preferential simulation situations
HA, known as the “shift effect”. As the time available in
the training sessions is limited, each action is designed to Situation
foster efficiency and quality in effort management. The PSSs are located in a context that sets up action
Synergistic conjecture: this refers to the effect achieved and response in a game/sport environment comprised of
by the combination of actions. These synergetic effects all the elements involved: the athlete, their teammates,
are produced between the components of successive PSSs opponents, the moment when the action is created, etc.
performed in the same session (synchronously) and also (Balagué et al., 2014). The tasks are global, in groups, and

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E. Pons, et al Training in Team Sports: Optimising Training at FCB

SPORTS TRAINING
various time sequences are proposed which are integrated orientation of the proposed exercises should be borne in
into the complex context of the game (Pol, 2014). mind in order to convey information that can be iden-
Another key aspect is the specificity of the PSSs used tified as having significant value and efficiency for the
in training. The concept of “specificity” refers to the kind self-optimisation of the HA (Pol, 2014). The impact on
of elements that are specific to a given sports speciality as top-level team sports players is usually high.
well as to a specific situational sensitivity on the part of The use of simulator situations makes it possible to
the player as the “own micro-environment” of this game/ generate exercises of varying specificity or approaching
sport during competition (Tarragó et al., 2019). Drawing level to the demand (Schelling & Torres-Ronda, 2016),
on the ST proposal, competition is the event in which all which is related to the planning and control of the PSSs;
the structures of the HA are most intensively activated, an adaptation of the load throughout the season helps to
hence the PSSs with the greatest number of stimulated plan and generate sequences based on the coach’s needs.
structures within an environment similar to the actual game
will have greater specificity. Preferential
In recent years there has been growing interest in the The “preferential” concept refers to managing the
complexity of nature and change, which are based on a elements of the PSSs in order to distinguish a structure
non-linear understanding of causality, whereby small causes that conforms the HA in the context of OT. This prior-
can generate major effects and vice versa (Moras et al., ity leads to a practical situation intended to achieve the
2018; Tarrago et al., 2019). The PSSs addressed under objective of the session, i.e. to afford preference/priority
these criteria not only maintain their essential nature for to one or more specific structures. This does not mean
learning but also become more attractive in practice due that this preferential structure rules out any relationship
to the constant challenge they pose to the HA. with the others, since the great variety of the game allows
Variability as the basis of OT is the ability to change interrelationships (Pol, 2014).
training conditions to trigger new response learnings so It is essential to view the PSSs as a differentiated source
that through these variations the athlete has to adapt their of requirements so that even if the same task is proposed
performance and establish new parameters for speed, path, for a group of players it does not involve the same level
strength, etc. (Schmidt, et al., 2018). This learning is there- of demands on each one of them; levels of demands have
fore another characteristic element based on the constant to be adjusted to suit the HA’s configuration/shape, bear-
resolution of new and varied situations without losing its ing in mind specific modifications tailored to individual
appearance or preferential objective (Hristovski, et al., needs to enable better self-optimisation of each player.
2011). The repetition of specific disturbances typical of the
game and of “our game” should be facilitated and can be
modified by reducing the degrees of freedom and by means Specific qualities of OT
of conditioning and/or constraints (facilitating contexts The distinctive behaviour of each type of sport is
rather than simplifying them), albeit by means of variable determined by the inherent characteristics of the sport/
execution. As a complex dynamic system, the player will game in question (Seirul·lo, 1998). When consider-
constantly find themselves in changing contexts to which ing specific qualities (SQ), a complex relationship is
they will have to adapt continuously. This means the motor established between the HA’s systems which is carried
behaviour or action to be optimised will not be inflexible out with movement, through the application of muscle
and nor will it attempt to follow a pre-established model strength. “Strength” means the basic physical quality
(Guerrero & Damunt, 2019) while reducing the inherently from which the other qualities are expressed since it is
harmful rate of repetitive practices and increasing the asso- the generator of movement.
ciated creativity. “Adaptability as a product of variability OT of the SQs is based on a methodological proposal
is closely tied to creativity” (Orth et al., 2017). adapted from Moras (1994), Seirul·lo (1998), Schelling
and Torres-Ronda (2016) and Gómez et al. (2019),
Simulator proposing a breakdown of the game into work areas,
The “simulator” concept refers to the need to use contents and alternative training of these contents in
the practical proposal to reproduce the elements typical accordance with their orientation and the approaching
of the game and which reproduce competition and its levels that can be attained by promoting each player’s
specific demands (Balagué et al., 2014). The qualitative technical execution levels (Gómez et al., 2019).

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E. Pons, et al Training in Team Sports: Optimising Training at FCB

SPORTS TRAINING
The “work areas” are determined by the four specific Systems that make up optimiser training
expressions of strength required in football and team of specific qualities. The transition from
sports in general: displacement, jump, fight and ball football to other team sports
action strength, as depicted in Figure 3 (Gómez et al.,
2019; modified from Schelling & Torres-Ronda, 2016). Displacement
The PSS proposal in OT includes all the HA’s struc- OT for displacement strength SQ is comprised of all
tures, conditioned by the interpretation of the game actions on and off the ball, of variable duration and intensity,
and the rules of the sports speciality that determine in which displacement takes place. It includes all types of
the dominant motor skills and the interactions between running (forward, sideways or backwards), changes of
teammates, opponents and the environment (Seirul·lo, direction, turns, feints, accelerations, decelerations, braking,
1998); all these aspects are strongly influenced by the etc., in which the basic principles of the movements focus on
methodological proposal and the game model implemented precision and on the efficient application of a certain strength
by the coaching staff. in an optimal space and time (Gómez et al., 2019). One of
The integration of technology into the dynamics of the distinctive aspects with respect to CT and which impacts
professional teams has made it possible to accurately the SQs is the need to adapt to a changing environment
ascertain conditional characteristics by studying the generated by the interactions between teammates, opponents
external and internal load experienced by athletes through- and a ball that alters these relationships continuously.
out training and competition (Castellano et al., 2011). The implementation of GPS technology makes it possible
Examples include geolocation systems known by the to identify the speed and amount of displacement of players
EPTS (Electronic Performance and Tracking Systems) in regular training and competition. This “intensity” has
initialism and the semi-automatic, multiple-camera Sys- been classified in several speed ranges in order to evaluate
tem Technology (VID) tracking systems used in games the locomotor conditional demand. By way of example, in a
in La Liga, the Champions League and other competi- number of football studies (Pons et al., 2019), displacement
tions. These technological systems make it possible to speed has been categorised in ranges from 0 to 6, 6 to 12,
monitor the actions of the game and to track load based 12 to 18, 18 to 21, 21 to 24 and above 24 kph. Another
on different conditional variables, thereby simplifying measurable aspect is the athlete’s actions when accelerating
the planning of training units and PSS design. The most or decelerating, which are also expressed in different
recent evolutionary studies of competitive analysis show ranges (Akenhead, et al. 2013). These variables are very
a significant increase in external load due to high-inten- important in team sports and are directly related to the HA’s
sity actions (metres covered at high intensity, number of neuromuscular structure (Loturco, et al., 2018).
accelerations, etc.). The relevant information gathered To develop the displacement SQ, a number of game
allows objective and efficient action to be taken through conditions must be considered, affording preference to each one
OT in response to the needs of the sportsperson vis-à- of the situations involved in the sports speciality. The actions
vis competition. The use of this technology allows the which determine the displacement SQ, depicted in Figure 4,
description of the SQs and their behaviour in OT. In are: changes of rhythm (accelerations and decelerations);
line with the suggestion made by Gómez et al., (2019), displacement speed, changes of direction and changes in
the expression of strength in all SQs as part of OT and amplitude and frequency of supports, all of them adapting to the
the degree of presence in the performance of sports in interaction with the environment, opponents and teammates,
shared spaces are presented below (Figures 4,5,6 and 7). giving priority to the HA’s conditional efficiency.

Figure 3
Specific qualities in OT.

Specific qualities

Displacement Fight Jump Ball action

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E. Pons, et al Training in Team Sports: Optimising Training at FCB

Figure 4

SPORTS TRAINING
Actions involved in the displacement SQ.

Change of
rhythm

Control of
running for
passing and Accelerations /
shooting Decelerations
actions

Displacements

Changes in Changes of
amplitude and
frequency of direction
supports

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E. Pons, et al Training in Team Sports: Optimising Training at FCB

Fight

SPORTS TRAINING
Figure 5 shows different actions (before, during and after)
The fight strength SQ is comprised of all actions on and to enable the management of the different PSSs, providing
off the ball, of variable duration and intensity, in which variability in fight strength actions. The situations that occur
at least two players contest a position or path using part in each sport speciality call for a different application of
or all of their body to win out, such as ball protection, strength (Seirul·lo, 1998). OT seeks to generate specific
charging, tackling, losing a marker or fighting to gain a stimuli adapted to the sport and each HA based on individual
position (Gómez et al., 2019). characteristics and taking the positional role into account.

Figure 5
Actions involved in the fight SQ.

Throw off
balance

Fight

Push Grab

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E. Pons, et al Training in Team Sports: Optimising Training at FCB

Jump

SPORTS TRAINING
OT although it is also addressed in CT. Each sport has its
OT for the jump strength SQ is comprised of all own specific jumping characteristics, and consequently
actions on and off the ball, of variable duration and game situations in which there are actions in the air
intensity, in which there is a jump; this initial thrust can (heading and clearances), drives and receptions should
be one- or two-footed, stationary or moving, where the be categorised with the diversity of situations appropriate
body goes into the air and with a greater incidence in to each sport while taking into account the individual
vertical displacement (Gómez et al., 2019). characteristics of the HA.
As an SQ included within the complexity of the game, Figure 6 shows different actions (before, during and
jumping should be considered as a training component of after) and their variability in jump strength actions.

Figure 6
Actions involved in the jump SQ.

Actions in the air


(Clearances
and heading)

Jump

Drives
Receptions (Clearances
and heading)

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E. Pons, et al Training in Team Sports: Optimising Training at FCB

On-the-ball action

SPORTS TRAINING
Finally, Table 1 is a summary of the specific qualities and
OT for the on-the-ball action strength SQ is comprised approaching levels.
of all actions on and off the ball, of variable duration and Future studies and ongoing research should enable
intensity, in which there is contact with the ball, such as further progress in using training methodologies and
control, dribbling, passing, shooting, clearances, headers, systems tailored to team sports. The implementation of
etc. (Gómez et al., 2019). new technologies for tracking both external and internal
The action the HA performs on the object varies loads will make it easier to shape micro-cycles and
according to the specificity of each sport when game session and task design based on objective data and
actions are performed. In terms of on-the-ball actions, criteria. Similarly, research into the relationship between
passing, kicking and shooting actions, conditioned by the complex systems and sports should be continued in order
interaction with teammates, opponents and the relationship to buttress strategies which boost their applicability to
space, must be taken into consideration. team sports training and be able to cater to the individual
Figure 7 shows different actions (before, during and characteristics of HAs.
after) and their variability in on-the-ball strength actions.

Figure 7
Actions involved in the on-the-ball ball Action SQ.

Passing

Ball action

Kicking Shooting

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E. Pons, et al
Training in Team Sports: Optimising Training at FCB

Table 1
Summary table of the Specific Qualities and their approaching levels or nature.

SPORTS TRAINING
Approaching levels General Targeted Special Competitive
Displacement
Changes of rhythm Linear displacements at different Same actions as general work but Situations played Actual play
speeds with changes of direction. introducing a ball, before, during Position game 11v11 official match
Accelerations / Decelerations
and after. (3v3 + 2) Area 14x12, (4v4 + 3) Area 16x18 situation
Displacements between 5-12 m focusing
Changes in amplitude and (4v4 + 2), Area 18x20
on accelerations and decelerations. Pass and overlap.
frequency of supports
Situation game
Resisted displacements. Passing sequence.
Control of running for passing (5v5 + 3) Area 20x24, (6v6 + 3) Area 22x26
and shooting actions Displacements over small obstacles. Circuit with combined displacement (7v7 + 3) Area 29x25 (8v8 + 3) Area 30x26
actions.
Stride amplitude displacement changes Structured SSGs
of support amplitude and frequency. (3v3) (3v3 + 1), (4v4) (4v4 + 1)
(5v5) (5v5 + 1), (6v6) (6v6 + 1)
LSGs
Area ½ pitch, box to box
Friendly match
Fight
Throw off balance General proposal for large muscle groups. Proposal on and off ball in small Position game Actual play
areas. Situation game 11v11 official match
Grab Self-loading proposal / Medicine ball.
Structured SSGs situation
Proposal for fight game actions with
Push Proposal of tasks with partners. Competitive units
circuits.
Grabbing, throwing off balance and pushing. LSGs
Friendly match
Jump
Actions in the air General proposal for large muscle groups. Proposal of tasks on and off ball. Competitive units Actual play
(Clearing/heading) LSGs 11v11 official match
Proposal with belts, resistance bands. Proposal of centre and heading
Friendly match situation
Drives (Clearing/heading) tasks in both offensive and
Successive jumps over hurdles with different
defensive actions.
Receptions amplitudes and heights.
On-the-ball action
Passing General proposal for large muscle groups. Rondo. Position game Actual play
Passing sequence. Situation game 11v11 official match
Shooting Passing tasks with displacements.
Circuit with combined passing Structured SSGs situation
Kicking Accuracy passing tasks. actions with teammates and Competitive units
opposition with displacements LSGs
Proposal of tasks with shooting Friendly match

Apunts. Educación Física y Deportes  |  www.revista-apunts.com 2020, n.º 142. 4th Quarter (October-December), pp. 55-66 65
E. Pons, et al Training in Team Sports: Optimising Training at FCB

J Sport Exerc Psychol, 33(1):146–155. https://doi.org/10.1123/


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Conflict of Interests: No conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

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